Coons addresses faith, politics in lecture

Monday

Dec 3, 2018 at 12:00 PM

VIDEO - Sen. Chris Coons , the co-chair of the Senate Prayer Breakfast, spoke last week at The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington as part of the McClendon Scholars lecture series on faith and politics.

Sen. Chris Coons , the co-chair of the Senate Prayer Breakfast, spoke last week at The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington as part of the McClendon Scholars lecture series on faith and politics.

“Today, in the Senate of the United States. Today, in the body politic of the United States, we beat each other senseless over weaponized, selective quotes from scripture that take a few things and make them defining and allow you to know whether I’m Republican or Democrat, whether I’m pro-gun or anti-gun, whether I’m pro-choice or pro-life.

“There’s just a handful of issues that let you know whether I’m good or bad. And, I’ll tell you, one of the things that concerns me most about how we as people of faith approach each other is we allow those things to divide us from each other with a depth and a persistence and a painfulness that would make Jesus weep,” said Coons.

“At the end of the day, we are called to treat each other as brothers and sisters, to forgive each other, to forebear with each other, in ways that are uncomfortable, unusual, and lead to real growth. It’s with that spirit that I try to approach my colleagues in the Senate. It’s with that spirit that I hope you will forgive me. And it’s with that spirit that I try whenever and wherever possible to preach the power of grace.”